Now That Zion Williamson Is Likely A Pelican, Will Anthony Davis Stay In New Orleans?

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) wears a T-shirt with 'That's All, Folks,' printed on it during player introduction before an NBA basketball game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Golden State Warriors in New Orleans, Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Scott Threlkeld)

"We have reason to believe we can build something that is attractive," the team's executive vice president said in the giddy moments after the Pelicans landed the No. 1 pick Tuesday at the Chicago Hilton. "If I’m Anthony Davis, I’m skeptical. He felt compelled to try to win elsewhere. If you look at totality where this organization is, we feel very strongly we’ll be the environment he wants to be in."

"If not we can deal with it from there. I’m looking at this believing he would want to win with us. It’s who we are. We knew we were the epicenter of the offseason. Now we are to a greater degree."

Davis famously wore a T-shirt that read, "That's All, Folks" during a Pelicans game on April 9.

In order to pair Davis with LeBron James, Magic Johnson and the Lakers offered a package of young players featuring Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and draft picks but the deal never went through.

Both franchises suffered mightily as a result of the failed trade and neither made the play0ffs.

The Celtics also have multiple trade assets, including young players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, as well as a slew of draft picks, but cannot trade for Davis until July 1 because of the Kyrie Irving Rule.

Kentucky coach John Calipari said in February that Davis simply wants to contend for an NBA title, which may be a little closer to reality with the addition of Williamson.

"[Davis] wants to win and I don’t know all the particulars,” Calipari said on ESPN’s “Get Up!” in January. “All I know is he loves New Orleans. He loves the city, loves his team and all that. But all these guys get to the point where winning becomes more important than anything else. And so whether it’s him or guys want to move to a team where they have more of a chance to win."

Previously the Pelicans were +800 (8/1) to keep Davis. But after the lottery, those numbers have fallen to +400 (4/1). Yet, the oddsmakers at BookMaker.eu still expect New Orleans to move Davis this year in return for talent to build around Williamson, instead of losing him in the offseason for nothing.

The Celtics and Lakers remain favorites to land Anthony Davis via trade despite the Pelicans winning the Zion Sweepstakes pic.twitter.com/b6yH40Qes1